Tokyo Electron Wins Recognition as a Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovator 2026
Tokyo Electron (TEL) announced today that it has been named one of the “Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators 2026” by Clarivate. This is the sixth time TEL has received this award.
Clarivate, a global information service provider, uses its proprietary patent databases to annually select “The top 100 innovative companies/institutions.” The selection process identifies the companies and institutions that have obtained more than 100 patents in the last five years. They are then evaluated based on the proportion and scale of their international patents using a combination of four indicators: influence, success, rarity, and investment.
TEL has received this distinguished honor for its consistent delivery of high-impact innovations that are shaping the future of the industry.
Guided by our vision to be "A company filled with dreams and vitality that contributes to technological innovation in semiconductors," TEL has built a robust IP portfolio by integrating IP, business, and R&D strategies. We remain committed to strengthening our IP initiatives in alignment with our corporate philosophy: "We strive to contribute to the development of a dream-inspiring society through our leading-edge technologies and reliable service and support."
TEL’s IP and intangible assets
TEL's ability to achieve sustainable growth depends on its prowess in R&D. In addition to our R&D operations within the TEL Group, we actively pursue open innovation through collaboration with domestic and international customers, consortia, and academic institutions. These activities provide our R&D team with a wide range of insights and technologies, enabling us to produce unique, innovative, and high-value technologies.
As a result, we developed 1,484*1 inventions in Japan and 431*1 abroad last year. We also achieved a global patent application rate*2 of around 75%*1 for six consecutive years. As of the end of December 2025, TEL holds 26,029 active issued patents, the largest number in the semiconductor production equipment industry. Our competitive patent portfolio is the foundation of our ever-increasing corporate value, which enables our sustained growth.
The cornerstones of TEL’s competitiveness are the technology development capabilities and the IP that we own. We currently operate 14 R&D sites around the world , prioritizing R&D development on a global scale.. TEL holds 23,249*1 active issued patents, the largest number in the semiconductor production equipment industry. We have maintained a global patent application rate*2 of approximately 75% for five consecutive years. Additionally, we are continuing to create numerous inventions through active collaboration with domestic and international partner companies, consortia, and academia.
Through these initiatives, we are striving to establish an advantage in the field of intellectual property on a global level and improve the competitiveness of our products.
Based on data from 2025
Percentage of patent applications filed outside of Japan compared to the total number of applications filed in each calendar year
Clarivate’s press release on the Top 100 Global Innovators 2026 can be accessed from the following URL:
